How to choose a data visualization

If your data has a changing variable

You can use these visualizations Which look like this

Line charts Single: Stacked:

Individual data points for a changing variable when the changing when the changing variable applies to
are connected with a continuous line variable is for a single more than one category and you want
category to compare categories
Download a stacked line chart in Google
Sheets

Column charts Single: Grouped: Stacked:

(vertical bar charts)
Individual data points for a changing variable
are represented as ve tical columns
Note: If the values being compared are vastly
different, a column chart might be too tall. You
can use a horizontal bar chart instead.
when the changing when the variable change applies when the variable change applies
variable is for a single to more than one category and
to more than one category and
category you want to compare categories you want to compare categories
without the spread of a group

Download examples in Google Sheets

Horizontal bar charts Grouped: Stacked:

Individual data points for a changing variable
for one or more categories; these appear like
rotated column charts
Download examples in Google Sheets
Single:
when the variable change applies when the variable change applies
when the changing
to more than one category and to more than one category and you
variable is for a single
you want to compare categories want to compare categories
category
without the spread of a group
 How to choose a data visualization
If your data has a changing variable measured over time

You can use these visualizations Which look like this

Line charts Single: Stacked:

Individual data points for a changing when the change over when the change over
variable are connected with a time is for a single item time is for multiple items
continuous line or classification or classifications
The line charts are similar to
Download a stacked line chart in those for a changing variable 200 200
Google Sheets but time is shown on the x-axis 150 150

100 100

50 50

0 0
2000 2010 2015 2020 2000 2010 2015 2020

Area charts Single: Unstacked: Stacked:

Individual data points for a changing when the variable change when data doesn’t align on when data aligns on the x-axis
variable are connected with a is for a single category the x-axis (data is from (data is from the same time
continuous line and the area under over time different time points) points)
the line is filled in
300 300 300
Download a stacked area chart in
Google Sheets 250 250 250

200 200 200

150 150 150

100 100 100

50 50 50

0 0 0

2020 2010 2005 2015 2020 2010 2005 2015 2005 2010 2015 2020

2
 How to choose a data visualization
If your data has a numeric trend

You can use these visualizations Which look like this

Histograms 40
Individual data points are categorized into columns
that each represent a different range of values 30

Download a histogram in Google Sheets 20

10

0
0-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80

Scatter charts
Individual data points are displayed, but without a
connecting line like in a line chart 30

Download a scatter chart in Google Sheets

20

10

0
10 20 30 40 50

Bubble charts 30
Individual data points are displayed as bubbles like in a
scatter plot, but numeric values are compared by the 25
relative size of the bubbles
20

Download a bubble chart in Google Sheets 15

10

0
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80

3
 How to choose a data visualization
If your data has partial and whole results
You can use these visualizations Which look like this

Pie charts
2D or 3D proportions (slices) are shown adding up to a Two-dimensional: Three-dimensional:
whole or 100%

Download a 2D pie chart in Google Sheets

19% 19%

44% 6% 44% 6%

31%

Donut charts
2D or 3D proportions (segments) adding up to a whole Two-dimensional: Three-dimensional:
or 100% 4.4%
4.4% 4.4%
4.4%
Download a 2D donut chart in Google Sheets

19.3% 19.3%
38.6%
38.6%

14.0%
19.3%
14.0%

19.3%

4
 How to choose a data visualization
If your data is progressive

You can use these visualizations Which look like this

Gauge charts 20-30

Single result is shown within a progressive range of

10-20 30-40
values allowed

Download gauge charts in Google Sheets

0-10 40-50

Bullet charts
Progressive result is shown as a horizontal or
vertical bar chart moving towards a desired
value

If your data has intensity or frequency

You can use these visualizations Which look like this

Heat maps 100

Results are shown by color gradations
representing the strength or frequency of values; 80
higher or more frequent values have more intense
color 60

40

20

10

5
 How to choose a data visualization
If your data has intensity or frequency (continued)

You can use these visualizations Which look like this

Density maps
Results are shown by color representing the
number or frequency of data points in a given
area on a map